AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice Test

What is a key benefit of using Amazon Aurora?

1. It supports only SQL databases

2. It requires manual scaling

3. It provides up to five times better performance than standard MySQL

4. It has limited availability regions

The correct answer is: It provides up to five times better performance than standard MySQL

One of the key benefits of using Amazon Aurora is that it provides up to five times better performance than standard MySQL. This performance enhancement is made possible through multiple architectural optimizations. Aurora is designed to take advantage of the cloud infrastructure, leveraging SSD storage, distributed computing, and a highly optimized engine that differentiates it from traditional MySQL databases. Furthermore, it automatically handles database replication across multiple Availability Zones, ensuring high availability and durability while significantly enhancing read and write speeds. This makes Aurora particularly attractive for applications that require high throughput, low latency, and the ability to scale efficiently without compromising performance. The other options highlight limitations or attributes that do not correctly represent the capabilities of Amazon Aurora. For example, it supports both SQL and NoSQL databases, offers automatic scaling based on workload, and is available in numerous regions worldwide, which contradicts the notion of limited availability. Hence, the substantial performance benefits Aurora delivers over standard MySQL databases is a standout feature that aligns with modern application requirements.